Destination · Southeast Asia
North Vietnam
From Hanoi to Sa Pa, and from the inland Hạ Long Bay to Cat Ba Island, a slow and inspiring 15-day journey.
The story
Vietnam reminded me of another way of living
I went to Vietnam to discover a country. I came back with far more than memories.
This trip made me think about the way we live, our habits, and what truly does us good. It wasn't necessarily the big moments that stayed with me — it was all those small everyday things that, strung together, painted a picture of simplicity and joy.
A life lived outdoors
In Hanoi, I felt the city was in constant motion. The streets are full of life, cafés spill onto the pavements, families eat together, children play, neighbours chat.
I was struck by this sense of collective life. The Vietnamese people gave me the impression of being present for one another. I don't know their reality, of course, but from the outside, there is a kind of human warmth that moved me deeply.
The body is part of daily life
Another thing struck me: the place given to the body. Massages are accessible, stretching is frequent, people take care of themselves without it seeming exceptional.
I came home wanting to keep listening to my body. Not just when it hurts — every day.
Each place carries a different energy
This is something I felt throughout the trip. In the northern mountains, my body didn't feel quite as well. Fatigue, altitude, the climate, the energy of the place? I can't really explain it.
But when we arrived in Tam Cốc, everything flowed again. The water, the rice paddies, the limestone cliffs… I felt immediately soothed, as if my body recognised this environment.
It reminded me how much some places simply suit us more than others.
Good to know
My favourite places
- 01
Hanoi, the Old Quarter
Rise early, walk around Hoàn Kiếm Lake, sit down in a café for a cà phê trứng.
- 02
Hạ Long Bay & Lan Ha Bay
Choose Lan Ha, far less crowded. A night aboard a junk boat, sunrise over the karsts.
- 03
Ninh Bình — the inland Hạ Long Bay
Rent a bike, drift by boat through Tam Cốc, stay with a local family amid the rice paddies.
- 04
Sa Pa & the terraced rice fields
Two days of gentle trekking through Hmong villages — avoid the high tourist season.
The full guide · Free preview
15 days in North Vietnam
Hanoi·Sa Pa·Ninh Bình·Cát Bà
A day-by-day itinerary, my tried-and-tested addresses (hotels, cafés, restaurants), transport, budget, my maps, and every tip I wish I'd known before setting off.
- · Detailed day-by-day itinerary
- · Tried-and-tested hotel, café and restaurant addresses
- · Full budget and transport advice
- · Maps and direct booking links